Evidence of ultracytochemical mitochondria-derived hydrogen peroxide activity in myocardial cells from broiler chickens with an ascites syndrome

The location of the cytotoxic reactive oxygen metabolite hydrogen peroxide was investigated ultracytochemically in broiler chickens which had been reared at sea level and had spontaneous hypoxia-induced ascites syndrome. In the ascitic birds the activity was located within the mitochondrial matrices of the cardiomyocytes, whereas in flock-mate control birds it was membrane-bound. Little or no activity was present in negative control material, which was prepared by detoxification with catalase, by extraction with acetone, by the omission of NADH and by the replacement of NADH by NADPH. The study demonstrated that there was probably hydrogen peroxide activity in the mitochondria of the ascitic birds.